Radius-rod reenforcement



RADIUS Ron 'REENFOHGEMENT Filed 0G13. 1l, 1926 @www Patented Nov, 15, 1927.

UNirEn stares EDWARD J". FAGAN, OF ROCHESTER, NEVI YORK,

RADIUS-RGD REETEORCEMENT.

Application filed cteber l1, 192. Serial No. 140,799.

The object of this invention is to provide a radius rod reen'forcement tor a pair ot 1fadius rods located parallel to each other to prevent these rods 'from buckling and breaking without preventingthe radius rods trom moving separately to keep the centers which they space in line with each other.

These and other objects ot this invention will be' fully illustrated in the drawing7 described in the specification and point-ed outv in the claim at the end thereof.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the rear portion of a truck chassis in which the rear aide is held in line with a jack shatt by means of a pair of radius rods that are reentorced in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation ot the rear chassis section illustrated in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view ot the front end of one of the radius rods with the reentorcing cross brace attached thereto.

Figure t is a perspective view similar to that of Figure 3 showing a modified form of attachment of the cross brace.

ln the several figures ot the drawing like reference numerals indicate like parts.

lin trucks ot the type in which sprockets and sprocket chains are used to transmit the power to the rear wheels ot the trucks the power is taken from jack shafts driven by differential gearing. In the chassis 1 illustrated in the figures of thedrawing the ditierential gear housing 2 is suitably suspended forward of the rear wheels 3 and l. The jack shafts 5 and 6 project :trom either side of the differential gear housing and have the sprockets 7 and 8 keyed thereon.

The rear axle of the truck is iiXed and has the wheels 3 and 4 pivotally mounted at each end thereof. To the wheels are fastened the sprocket wheels 9 and 10 and brake drums 11 and 12 respectively. The sprocket chains 13 and 14 pass over the sprocket 7 and sprocket wheel 9 and the sprocket 8 and sprocket wheel 10 respectively.

In order to hold the center of the jack shafts in line with the center ot the wheels 3 and 4c and the sprocket wheels 9 and 10 fastened thereto, the radius rods 15 and 16 are provided. The rear ends o'l2 these radius rods are rigid with the sprocket wheels 9 and 1() while the :front end is attached to the trame of the chassis by means ot a ball and socket oint. For this purpose a bracket 16A is mounted on each side ot the iframe 1 and on this bracket is termed a ball socket 17 into which engages the ball 1S provided the `front end of eac-h radius rod. Each radius rod comprises a triangular channel bent up ot heavy sheet metal of which the wide end is iixed te the rear sprocket and brake drum. y

rlhe narrow forward end of each radius rod has the bracket 19 suitably fastened thereto and on this bracket is provided a longitudinal boss 2O in which the stud 21 is held in place. rlhe stud 21 has the ball 18 formed on its outer end and when placed into the ball socket 17 connects the iront end of the radius rod to the bracket 16A ot the chassis trame. rlhe radius rods thus hold the sprocket and sprocket wheel in line with each other so as to keep the sprocket chain in mesh therewith.

In the use ot a truck it many times hap-` pens especially when driving into or out of a depression that one ot the rear wheels does not travel on the same plane as the other. While the sprockets are held in line with each other by the radius rods in such a case an unequal strain is brought to bear on the radius rod and will cause the radius rod to buckle, rlhis buckling takes place at the forward end of the radius rod and bends the radius rod outwardly7 that is away from the chassis at this point. When a radius rod has buckled, it locks the sprocket wheel to which it is attached and prevents turther movement ot' the rear wheel.

My invention which prevents this buckling while allowing free' movement of the radius rods otherwise consists of a pair of bracing rods 22 and 23 which are joined together with a turnbuckle 2li. The outer ends of these bracing rods are biturcated and embrace the small end ot the radius rods at the point where the bracket 19 is attached thereto. A bolt 25 passes thru the biturcated ends of the bracing rods 22 and 23 on the outside of the radius rods so that when the turnbuckle 24: is rotated it draws the bracing rods together and firmly ties these radius rods together to prevent their buckling outwardly. Vlhile the bracing rods tie the radius rods together and prevent their buckling their connection with the radius rods is such that the tying together does not prevent the radius rods trom in* dividually moving in a vertical plane to keep the centers of the sprockets in line with each other when the rear Wheels travel over uneven ground.

In Figure l I have illustrated a modified form of attachment 0f the brace rods to the radius rods. In this niodilication, boss 3() is formed integral with the boss 20 and in this boss 3() is formed an .eye into which the L shaped end of the brace rods engage. A cotter pin or other suitable retaining` device is attached to the downwardly projectingr end of the bracing rod to prevent the rod from disengagement from the radins rod.

I' claim:

In a radius rod connection for connecting an axle with the chassis supported by the axle and comprising a pair of radius rods having a. pivotal connection between the Iixed axle and the chassisl the combination of a cross brace fastening said `pair of radius rods together at opposite points and fastening means carried at the ends of said cross brace and connecting the ends of said cross brace to said radius rods to allow an angular movement of said radius rods in unison with each other and independent of each other While bracing said radius rods 'from each other to prevent an outward buckling of the radius rods in any angular position with relation to each other and the chassis supported by said axle.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature;

EDIVARD J. FAGAN. 

